Razor blade sharpener



April 3, 1934.

T. L. HUGHES 1,953,559

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Nov. 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iltturncgs.

April 3,1934.

T. L. HUGHES RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed NOV. 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNETD STATES PAT? '7 Claims.

The objects of this invention are to provide novel means for mounting ablade holder, in a sharpening machine, to provide novel means foroperating the blade holder both as to reciprocation and as to reversalabout a transverse axis, and to improve the construction of theframework of the machine.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the inventionappertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with theinvention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental top plan, with parts being broken away.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a base 1, which is abox-like structure of small height. The base 1 comprises a bottom 2, anend wall 3, an end wall 4, a side wall 5, and a side wall 6 the sidewall 5 being somewhat higher than the side wall 6. Secured to the bottom2, adjacent the end wall 3 is an outwardly projecting; tab 7 having ahole 8 whereby the article may be hung up. Guides 9 are secured to thebottom 2, adjacent to the end wall 4. In the guides 9, a U-shaped handle1.0 is slidably mounted. When the device is in use, the handle is drawnoutwardly as in Fig. 1, but when the device is not in use, the handlemay be shoved inwardly, under the bottom 2, as shown in Fig. l. Thereare elongated openings 11 in the bottom 2, which facilitate the removalof the sharpening element hereinafter described. The side wall 5 has alongitudinal guide slot 12 parallel to the bottom 2. The side wall 5 hasan outwardly projecting guiding lip 14 at the upper edge of the slot 12.The wall 6 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 15. The flange15 is parallel to the bottom 2 and extends between the end walls 3 and4.

Anchor blocks 16 are disposed under the flange 15, in the two cornersformed. by the parts 643. Tubular posts 17 are placed on the inwardlyprojecting flange 15, near to its ends. 18 marks a guide rail which isparallel to the bottom 2. The guide rail 18 has flattened ends 19,resting on the upper end of the tubular posts 17. Securing elements 20,such as screws, pass downwardly through the flattened ends 19 of theguide rail 18, through the tubular posts 17, through the flan e 15, andinto the anchor blocks 16. Thus the posts 17 and the guide rail 18 areconnected rigidly to the base 1, in the position shown in Fig. 3. Figure5 shows that the anchor blocks 16 have another function, in that theyserve as abutments for one side of the hereinafter mentioned sharpeningelement.

The sharpening element may comprise the block 21 of Fig. 3, into which ahone 22 is recessed and secured. The sharpening element may be the block23 of Fig. l, to the top of which a yieldable cushion 2 1, made of feltor other material, is secured. The strop 25 is secured to the uppersurface of the cushion 2a.. The operator uses the sharpening element ofFig. 3 or the sharpening element of Fig. 1, depending upon the nature ofthe work which is to be done to the blade which is to be sharpened. Thesharpening element, whatever be its form, is mounted removably in thebase 1. The sharpening element abuts at one side against the anchorblocks 16 (Fig. 5) and abuts at its opposite side against the member 5of the base 1. The ends of the sharpening element (Fig. 4) are engagedby the end walls 3 and 4 of the base 1.

The numeral 26 marks a rider, in the form of a vertical plate (Fig. 2).At its ends, the rider 26 has inwardly projecting lugs 27. The guiderail 18 passes through the lugs 2'2, and, thus, the rider 26 is mountedon the guide rail for reciprocation longitudinally of the guide rail.Intermediate its ends, the rider 26 has a fixed, inwardly projecting,tubular bearing 28. A shaft 29 is mounted for rocking movement in thebearing 28. One end of the shaft 29 slides in the slot 12 of the sidewall 5, in contact with the lip i l of said side wall (Fig. 5).Intermediate its ends, the shaft 29 is supplied with a polygonal portion36 forming a shoulder 31. A pin 32 or the like, in the polygonal portion30, forms a second shoulder.

The blade retaining means is a composite structure. It comprises anouter trough-shaped blade holder On the back of the blade holder 33Udthere is a rectangularly disposed arm 34. The

The numeral arm 34 is disposed nearer to one end of the blade holder 33than to the other end thereof. The arm 34 has an oblong opening 35receiving the squared portion 30 of the shaft 29. The width of theopening 35 is equal to the width of the squared portion 30 of the shaft29, but the length of the opening is greater (Fig. 4) than the width ofthe squared portion 30 of the shaft 29. Consequently, when the shaft 29is rocked on its axis, the blade holder 33 is swung toward and away fromthe sharpening element, for instance the bone 22 of Fig. 3, but becausethe opening 35 is longer than the width of the squared portion 30 of theshaft 29, the blade holder can have a lateral swinging movement in thedirection of the arrow A in Fig. 1. The shifting of the position of theblade holder 33 with respect to the surface of the hone 22, when theblade is in contact with the hone, is further promoted by reason of thefact that the arm 34 is not located midway between the ends of the bladeholder 33, but is slightly near to one end of the blade holder than theother.

Within the resilient outer blade holder 33 is removably held an innertrough-shaped blade grip 36. The blade grip 36 has a projection 37 atone end (Fig. 1). There is an opening 33 in the projection 37. Theopening 38 in the projection 37 matches with notches 51 in the ends ofthe outer blade holder 33. The opening 38 facilitates the removal of theinner troughshaped blade grip 36 from the outer blade holder 33. Theblade 39 which is to be sharpened, is gripped in the inner blade grip36.

On the outside of the plate-like rider 26 (Fig. 2) a pinion 40 issecured to the shaft 29. The pinion 4O meshes with a partial gear 41.The partial gear 41 has extensions 42 at diametrically opposite points.The extensions 42 of the partial gear 41 carry rigid, outwardlyprojecting finger pieces 43. Sleeves 44 are journaled for rotation onthe finger pieces 43 and are held thereon. The rotatable sleeves 44facilitate the rocking or rotation of the partial gear, at the hand ofan operator, by means of the finger pieces 43. The partial gear 41 issupported at its center on the rider 26, for rotation or rockingmovement, as shown at 45.

The rider 26 carries a brake mechanism adapted to cooperate with theguide rail 18. The brake mechanism is shown best in Fig. 5. It comprisesan outwardly projecting socket 47 on the rider 26. A screw 46 isthreaded into the socket 4'7 and has a finger piece 48 at its outer end.A brake piece 49, which may be made of friction material, is slidablymounted in the inner end of the socket 47 and bears on the guide rail18. A compression spring 50 is located in the socket 47 and isinterposed between the screw 46 and the brake piece 49.

In practical operation, the rider 26 is slid back and forth along theguide rail 18, by means of the finger pieces 43 and their sleeves 44,with the edge of the blade 39 in contact with the sharpening element,which may be either the hone 22 of Fig. 3 or the strop 25 of Fig. 4. Theblade is reversed between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by atrain of parts comprising the finger pieces 43, the partial gear 41, thepinion 40, the shaft 29, and the arm 34 on the blade holder 33.

The brake composed of the screw 46, the spring 50 and the piece 48 exertan adjusted pressure on the guide rail 18, the movement of the rider 26along the guide rail being retarded, and conditions being created whichsimulate closely those nesasse that exist when an ordinary razor isstropped or honed in the well-known way. The action of the brake on theguide rail 18 serves two purposes. First, it holds the rider 26 at theend of each stroke and prevents the blade 39 from cutting into the stropwhen the blade is flopped over from the position of Fig. 3 to theposition of Fig. 4, for instance, and when the sliding movement of therider 26 is reversed. Really, the blade 39 is in the same position inFigs. 4 and 3 since the device has been turned end for end in thosefigures, but they may be used as has been done above, to illustrate thepoint under discussion.

A second use for the brake is that by retarding the movement of thecarriage 26, a larger proportion of the force tending to slide thecarriage along the rail 13 becomes effective to rotate the gears 41 and40 and the shaft 29, and the blade 39 is held the more closely on thesharpening element. The pressure of the blade 39 on the stroppingelement depends on the effectiveness of the brake, and the drag of thebrake on the rail 18 may be regulated between minimum and maximum byadjusting the screw 46 out or in. The importance of the brake, in thepractical working of the device cannot be over-estimated.

The foregoing disadvantages are overcome in the device forming thesubject matter of this application, since the blade 39 is notconstrained to follow the same path as the blade moves back and forthover the stropping element. The blade 39 does not follow a single pathbecause the blade holder 33 can swing laterally, as shown by the arrow Ain Fig. 1, and the mounting of the arm 34, nearer to one end of theblade holder 33 than to the other, also changes the path in which theblade moves over the sharpening element. The blade 39 tends to assumeother than a rectangular position with respect to the line ofreciprocation, and that is proper, as any cutler knows. Since the arm 34of the blade holder 33 has some latitude of movement on the shaft 29,the blade 39 tends to engage the sharpening element with an evenpressure. In general, so satisfactory is the operation of the devicethat a person having a little practice can work at a speed of twohundred strokes or so per minute.

The rider 26 is mounted to reciprocate on the single guide rod 18, but asmooth sliding movement of the rider is effected because the end of theshaft 29 moves in the slot 12 of the side wall 5, in contact with andbeneath the lip 14. Practically all of the driving mechanism is mountedon the rider 26, aside from the fact that the end of the shaft 29 movesin the slot 12 of the side wall 5, the construction last above referredto serving to keep the shaft 29 parallel to the working surface of thesharpening element. The power applied to the finger pieces 43 and theirsleeves 44 is parallel to the guide rail 18, and the brake mechanism49-50-43 will not pinch or bind on the rail 18, the friction of thebrake on the rail being just what is created by advancing or retractingthe screw 46. The posts 17, the screws 20, the anchor blocks 16 and theflange 15 form a simple but effective means for holding the guide rail18 rigidly in place, in its proper position.

The outer blade holder 33 preferably is formed of spring steel, heavyenough to answer the purpose. The inner blade grip 33 preferably is madeof lighter spring steel, and the blade 39 may be inserted readily intoit, the blade grip 36 then being placed in the stronger blade holder 33.The operator is not confronted with the problem of placing a bare bladeinto a strong blade holder, an operation which very often brings about aslashing of the operators hand by the blade. The inner blade grip 36, ofcourse, may be made to accommodate blades of any construction.

What is claimed is:

l. A sharpener of the class described, comprising a base including asharpening element, a shaft disposed transversely of the base, means formoving the shaft longitudinally of the base and for rocking the shaft, ablade holder, and mechanism for mounting the blade holder on the shaftfor swinging movement in a plane approximately parallel to the shaft, inoperative relation to the sharpening element, said mechanism embodying asquared portion on the shaft, and an arm on the blade holder, the armhaving an oblong opening receiving the squared portion of the shaft, thewidth of the opening being the same as the Width of said squaredportion, and the length of the opening being greater than the Width ofsaid squared portion.

2. A sharpener of the class described, comprising a base including asharpening element, a shaft disposed transversely of the base, means formoving the shaft longitudinally of the base and for rocking the shaft, ablade holder, and mechanism for mounting the blade holder on the shaftfor swinging movement in a plane approximately parallel to the shaft, inoperative relation to the sharpening element, said inechanism embodyinga squared portion. on the shaft, and an arm on the blade holder, the armhaving an oblong opening receiving the squared portion of the shaft, theWidth of the opening being the same as the width ofsaid squared portion,and the length of the opening being greater than the width of saidsquared portion, the arm being located nearer to one end of the bladeholder than to the other end thereof.

3. A sharpener of the ciass described, comprising a base including asharpening element, the base being provided at one side with a firstWall having an inwardly-extended overhanging flange, the base having asecond Wall at its opposite side, the said second Wall having a guideslot, anchor blocks under the flange, posts supported on the flange, aguide rail supported on the posts, securing elements passing through theguide rail, post and flange into the anchor blocks, the sharpeningelement being engaged between the anchor blocks and the second wall, arider slidable on the guide rail, a shaft journaled in the rider andslidable in the slot, a blade holder carried by the intermediate portionof the shaft and cooperating with the sharpening element, and means forrocking the shaft and sliding the rider on the guide rail longitudinallyof the base.

4. A sharpener of the class described, comprising a base provided at oneside with a first wall having an inwardly-extended overhanging flange,the base having a second wall at its opposite side, the said second wallhaving a guide slot, anchor blocks under the flange, posts supported onthe flange, a guide rail supported on the posts, securing elementspassing through the guide rail, post and flange into the anchor blocks,a rider slidable on the guide rail, a shaft journaled in the rider andslidable in the slot, a blade holder carried by the intermediaateportion of the shaft, means for rocking the shaft and sliding the rideron the guide rail longitudinally of the base, and a sharpening elementlocated beneath the blade holder, the sharpening element fitting closelybut removably between the anchor blocks and the second Wall.

5. A sharpener of the class described comprising a base including asharpening element, a guide rail, mechanism for securing the guide railto one side of the base, the opposite side of the base being providedwith a side Wall having an elongated guide slot, a rider slidable on theguide rail, a shaft journaled in the rider and slidable in the slot, ablade holder carried by the shaft between the guide rail and said wall,means for rocking the shaft and sliding the rider on the guide raillongitudinally of the base, with the blade holder in operative relationto the sharpening element, and a brake carried by the rider and engagingthe guide rail.

6. A sharpener of the class described comprising a base including asharpening element, a guide rail, mechanism for securing the guide railto one side of the base, the opposite side of the base being providedwith a side wall having an elongated guide slot, a rider slidable on theguide rail, a shaft journaled in the rider and slidable in the slot, ablade holder carried by the shaft between the guide rail and said wall,means for rocking the shaft and sliding the rider on the guide raillongitudinally of the base, with the blade holder in operative relationto the sharpening element, a brake on the rider and engaging the guiderail, and means for adjusting the pressure wherewith the brake bears onthe guide rail.

7. A sharpener of the class described comprising a base including asharpening element, a guide rail, mechanism for securing the guide railto one side of the base, the opposite side of the base being providedwith a side wall having an elongated guide slot, a rider slidable on theguide rail, a shaft journaled in the rider and slidable in the slot, ablade holder carried by the shaft between the guide rail and said Wall,means for rocking the shaft and sliding the rider on the guide raillongitudinally of the base, with the blade holder in operative relationto the sharpening element, the means for rocking the shaft and slidingthe rider embodying a pinion secured to the shaft, a gear meshing withthe pinion and journaled on the rider, and outstanding handle members onthe gear at substantially diametrically opposite points.

THOMAS LEE HUGHES.

